The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-03-16
The Literary Club.

The Abbeville Literary Club met last Friday
night at the house OF Major A. b. Wardlaw, j.
s. Perrin, Esq. In the chair, and Frank Gary,
meeting, and officers were elected as follows:
President-W. L. Miller.
Vice-Preaident-B. s. Barnwcil.
treasurer and LibrariSn-A. II. Wardlaw.
Committee on Essays and Places OF Meeting
w. G. McGowan, o. T. Calhoun, s. q. Cason.
Committee on Periodicals.. e. Klugh, T. p.
Cothran, Hugh Wilson.
The retiring Treasurer and Librarian made
a report showing a very satisfactory condition
Of the club, both as TO the finances and the
membership Of the club.
1t being known that Mr.. j. G. Klugh, the
regularly appointed essayist for the evening,
would be unavoidably detained away from
the meeting Mr.. Benet had been asked by
several members to read the address which he
recently delivered In Charleston. Conserving
to do so, he read extensive extracts from that
admirable address which has received SO
much favorable comment from the people and
the press. Instead OF attempting 70 lurnlSn 1ISii
append what the Sumter ADVANCE says OF The
"Mr. w. C. Benet. OF Abbeville, delivered
the nnual address before the grad duating class
OF the South Carolina Medical College In
Charleston, on the 4th instant, and to Judge
nom the synopsis Of the address as published
by the Netos and Courier, II was such an effort
as might have been expected from him; His
relation Of capital and labor.
"Of course Mr. Benet did not solve the prob.
lem-we consider 1t beyond the ken OF mortal
will have to be solved as events unfold them
selves. This Is a period OF great unrest the
world over. and the relations OF labor and
capital are very much strained. The causes
for this state or affairs were plainly pointed
out by Mr.. Benet.
"The last half century has witnessed the
most wonderful progress In inventions. and
especially In abor-saving machinery. These
have helped the few to pile up colossal for:
tunes, and to form gigantic corporations and
mOnopolies.
"The result has heen that instead Of the con.
1t hos been made worse. Avarice seems to
have seized upon the minds OF the people and
instead OF our unparalleled progress In the In
dustries. the arts and sciences, elevating our
ter, 1t seems to have had the opposite effect.
Mr.. Benet argues with much force. that our
standard Of civilization to-day. Is not rs high
as 1t WAS half century ago-that while we
things, our standard OF civilization has II any
thing. been lowered. Hecalls upon the young
men Of to-day who will have to shape the des-
civilization Of the beginning Of the twentieth
century, To consider well the great responsi.
bilities that rest upon them. Society. the
world over, is passing through a transition
place, the young men will be the chief actors.
We have not space to follow Mr.. Benet fur.
ther, but we agree with him that the Ameri-
can people should call q halt, and ask them.
selves the question, where are we drifting?
Where will avarice lead US II unchecked?
Mr.. Benet Is one OF the most profound think.
ers Of the day. and his voice Of warning and
admonition should be needed"
The reading OF the speech occasioned much
comment, being diversified in expression ac-
cording 10 the opinion Of the individual men,
ber, and all combined made 1t one Of the most
pleasant Of the club meetings. Mr.. Miller,
Judge Cothran, Mr.. Calhoun, Mr.. Gary Mr..
Templeton, Mr.. MCGOWAN, and others took
part In the discussion.